LG’s update of the sweet P300 gives it more power and a stylish new finish. The XNOTE P310 has a fast Core 2 Duo processor that clocks in at 2.26GHz and 3GB of DDR3 RAM. A 320GB hard drive has plenty of space for tunes and videos, and the fast wireless connectivity makes surfing and e-mailing on the go a total snap. The P310 is nice and light, yet the wicked Surround Sound audio, the NVIDIA GeForce 9600 graphics and HDMI video port show that this machine is a serious entertainment platform, in spite of the diminutive 13.3” screen.

The most noticeable feature of the XNOTE P310 is the swish new finish. Instead of the simple gloss hues of the previous model, the P310 comes in either a red wine or black rose textured finish. However, it’s what’s under the hood that counts: The Centrino 2 platform is ideal for portable media computers, and it is sure to please mediaphiles. Greeniacs and road-warriors alike will like the battery-saving backlit LED screen, and the two-megapixel webcam is fine for video-chatting. The graphics card is a little anemic at 256MB, which makes this computer a lousy choice for an avid gamer. For the film buff, however, this beefy little machine will rock, whether it’s used in bed or plugged into a home theater via the HDMI port -- except for the baffling fact that the external DVD drive doesn’t do Blu-ray.

Though computers generally enjoy the lifespan of a Popsicle on a June sidewalk, LG has put enough bleeding-edge tech into the XNOTE P310 to keep it running in most people’s speed-and-power comfort zone for the foreseeable future. The 13-inch screen may sound small, but really, for watching movies or YouTube videos on your lap or in bed, it’s the perfect size. The only real weakness is the graphics chipset, which is definitely no good for serious gaming. However, for surfing, typing and watching The Tudors in bed with the headphones on, this machine is well-positioned to see its owner through at least the next couple of years -- provided he shells out for a third-party Blu-ray reader.